Screen Readers Skip to Content

Disability and LGBT Sexuality Information and Articles

Updated/Revised Date: 21st Sep 2022
Author: Sexual Diversity | Contact: SexualDiversity.org
Additional References: Disability and LGBT Sexuality Publications

Synopsis: This section of Sexual Diversity provides an interesting series of articles, news, and fact sheets with a focus on LGBT disability and sexuality.

Definition

Disability Sexuality

Sexuality and disability is a topic regarding the sexual behavior and practices of people with disabilities, who have a range of sexual desires and differ in how they choose to express their sexuality. Commonly, people with disabilities lack comprehensive sex education to assist their sexual lives. When it comes to sexuality and disability, there is a sexual discourse that surrounds it. The intersection of sexuality and disability is often associated with victimization, abuse, and purity. Some methods assist with physical disabilities that change a person's sexual functioning, such as spinal cord injury. Individuals with disabilities may enjoy sex with the help of sex toys and physical aids by finding suitable sex positions or through the services provided by a qualified sex worker.

LGBT and Disability

LGBT people with disabilities face double marginalization. Individuals with disabilities are often either viewed as nonsexual or hypersexual. Because of these misconceptions, it is hard to find queer people with disabilities portrayed in healthy sexual lives. In recent years, scholars have been working to include disability studies into queer theory to normalize disability in queer and LGBT spaces. Queer and disabled liberation starts with rejecting historical ideas on sexuality and disability. It is also rare to have a queer person with disabilities portrayed in media.

Main Section

Sexuality and disability refers to the sexual behavior and practices of people with a disability (PWD). There is a long history of seclusion and segregation that has affected society's view of people with disabilities.

About 60 million people, or one in five Americans (20%), live with at least one disability. Most Americans will experience a disability at some time during their lives. One in five LGBT people also has a disability. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has positively affected the lives of people with disabilities in America, including those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender and those living with HIV/AIDS.

Physical disabilities such as a spinal cord injury may change the sexual functioning of a person. However, the disabled person may enjoy sex with the help of sex toys and physical aids (such as bed modifications), by finding suitable sex positions, or through the services provided by a qualified sex worker.

Disability stereotypes add to the difficulty and stigma experienced by people with disabilities. The following myths about people with disabilities have been identified:

People with disability may have concerns about sexual participation after experiencing a disability which can affect the quality of life and/or self-esteem. Social workers, occupational therapists (OT), psychologists, and sex therapists, as well as others, are just some of the professionals you can talk to about your unique sexual needs or problems.

Post to Twitter Add to Facebook

Latest Disability and LGBT Sexuality Publications

The above information is from our reference library of material relating to Disability and LGBT Sexuality that includes:

Silc Touch Ergonomic Handle - The Easiest Way to Hold a Sex Toy thumbnail image.Silc Touch Ergonomic Handle - The Easiest Way to Hold a Sex Toy thumbnail image.
Silc Touch ergonomic handle makes holding a sex toy easier for those with arm, hand and wrist disabilities.
Publish Date: 6th Oct 2023
Disability on Valentine's Day: Romance, Sex, and Sensory Sensitivity thumbnail image.
Autism and Sexuality questions answered by Dr. Lynette Louise, The Brain Broad.
Publish Date: 3rd Feb 2023
A Lack of Ideas: Sexy Edition thumbnail image.
I'd like to expand on the value of cultivating and exploring a diversity of ideas in order to have healthier, sexier, happier sex.
Publish Date: 27th Oct 2022
Jeff: A Sexually Realized Spiritual Odyssey of Stepping Into Love - Book Review thumbnail image.Jeff: A Sexually Realized Spiritual Odyssey of Stepping Into Love - Book Review thumbnail image.
A review of Lynette Louise's first book, JEFF.
Publish Date: 30th Apr 2022 - Updated: 29th May 2023
Latest Issue of the 'Positive Approaches Journal' Focuses on Sexuality and Connectedness thumbnail image.
Department of Human Services releases research and resources for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, autism and mental health and behavioral challenges.
Publish Date: 10th Jun 2021


1How Many Genders Are There?
Alphabetical list of gender identities.

2Transgender Reporting Guide
How to write about transgender people.

3Glossary of Sexuality Terms
Definitions of sexual terms & acronyms.

4Glossary of Gender Terms
Definitions of gender related terms.

5Am I Gay? Questions to Ask
Think you may be gay or bisexual?

• Submissions: Send us your coming events and LGBTQ related news stories.


• Report Errors: Please report outdated or inaccurate information to us.



• (APA): SexualDiversity.org. (2022, September 21). Disability and LGBT Sexuality Information and Articles. SexualDiversity.org. Retrieved March 29, 2024 from www.sexualdiversity.org/disability/


• Permalink: <a href="https://www.sexualdiversity.org/disability/">Disability and LGBT Sexuality Information and Articles</a>